TUESDAY’S announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness of adjustments to the COVID-19 protocols has been met with positive responses from the principals at Palace Amusement Company, operators of the local circuit of cinemas.

It was a pleased Melanie Graham, Palace’s marketing manager, who told the Jamaica Observer that the company will be reopening two of its four cinema complexes as of this Friday.

“We are opening Carib and Portmore this Friday, not Cineplex and Multiplex. We will be opening with the highly anticipated Fast 9 as well as some other films which have been shown at the drive-in. So, we are encouraging the public to come out and enjoy the cinema experience,” said Graham.

Carib refers to Carib 5 cinema in Cross Roads in St Andrew, while Portmore is Sunshine Palace in St Catherine.

Graham said they will stagger the start time to accommodate as many patrons as possible.

According to the marketing manager, Palace Amusement will continue to observe the relevant government protocols in relation to the wearing of masks, temperature checks and sanitisation.

In his address to Parliament, Prime Minister Holness made specific mention of cinemas.

“For drive-in cinemas, we will be removing the existing capacity limitation on the number of vehicles but instead require that the [maximum] number of persons in any vehicle should not exceed the number permitted to be in the vehicle under registration. For vehicles that are registered to carry more than seven persons, the maximum allowed will be eight persons. A vehicle designed to accommodate no more than 15 persons shall be the largest permitted. Theatres, indoor and drive-in cinemas must strictly adhere to the established protocols,” said Holness.

The prime minister also extended the curfew hours. Effective July 1, the curfew start time will be extended from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Mondays to Saturdays. On Sundays, the curfew begins at 6:00 pm. All curfews end at 5:00 am the following day.